Method for searching for data in at least two databases, and database system having at least two databases

• US 6,934,703 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Josenhans, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke S
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/796,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 707 3- 5, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 715/700, 345/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A method and system for searching for data in at least two databases. To allow simultaneous access to two or more databases, a search term is entered. On the basis of the entered search term, the predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and the successor or a plurality of successors to the search term and, if available, the search term itself from each of the databases are stored in a search table, and the search term, if stored in the search table, or that term from the predecessor or plurality of predecessors and successor or plurality of successors stored in the search table which comes closest after the entered search term is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for searching for data in at least two databases, in particular for searching or telephone directory, address book or appointments diary entries in at least two telephone directory, address book or appointments diary databases, in which:

a search term is entered,

on the basis of the entered search term, searching for and retrieving a predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search term itself from each of the at least two databases and storing in a search table a predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search term itself, and

displaying the entered search term, if stored in the search table, or that term from the predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and successor or plurality of successors stored in the search table which comes closest to the entered search term.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that that term from the predecessor or a plurality of predecessors stored in the search table which come closest before the entered search term is displayed instead of the search term itself if the search term itself is not available.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the displayed term is used as search term for updating the search table.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that either the displayed term is selected in order to display or select for further processing the data associated therewith, or a new search term is determined for continuing the search.

5. The method according o claim 4, characterized in that the new search term selected is the next predecessor or the next successor to the displayed term from the search table.

6. The method according o claim 1, characterized in that only the respective predecessors and successors to the search term in the connected databases and also, if available, the search term itself are stored in the search table in response to a search query, and in hat the data associated with a search term are read from the appropriate database and stored only for the term displayed, in order that they may be displayed or processed further upon request.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each term stored in the search table has an associated unique identification number.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the purpose of reading the data associated with a displayed term from the appropriate database, the identification number of the displayed term is transmitted with a read request.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, together with the respective predecessors and the successors to the search term and also, if available, with the search term itself, the associated data from the connected databases are also stored in the search table in response to a search query in order that they may be displayed or processed further upon request.

10. A database system for searching for data in at least two databases, in particular for searching for telephone directory, address book or appointments diary entries in at least two telephone directory, address book or appointments diary databases, comprising:

at least two databases, each of which has associated database control device,

a database primary control apparatus which can be connected to the database control devices for the purposes of transmitting data and control commands to the database control devices and receiving them therefrom, and

an associated search table memory which is able to store data transmitted from the database control devices, and

a user interface which is connected to the database primary control apparatus and via which search terms and control commands can be entered for the purpose of simultaneously searching for data in all the connected databases, and via which terms and data found during the search in the connected databases can be output, wherein on the basis of the entered search terms a predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search terms can be searched for and retrieved from each of the at least two databases, and the predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search term itself can be stored in the search table memory; and

a display coupled to the user interface for displaying the entered search terms, if stored in the search able memory, or that term, from the predecessor or plurality of predecessors or successor or plurality of successors, stored in the search table memory which comes closest to the entered search terms.

11. The database system according to claim 10, characterized in that the database primary control apparatus is connected to a database access interface to which the database control devices of the databases can be connected for the purpose of interchanging data and control commands using communication links.

12. The database system according to claim 11, characterized in that the communication links provided are radio links.

13. The database system according to claim 11, characterized in that the communication links provided are infrared links.

14. The database system according to claim 11, characterized in that the communication links provided are wired links.

15. The database system according to claim 10, wherein the databases are a telephone directory, address book or appointments diary databases.

16. The database system according to claim 10, characterized in that the databases are provided on various apparatuses, at least one of which is a telephone.

17. The database system according to claim 16, characterized in that the database primary control apparatus is provided in the telephone.

18. The database system according to claim 10, characterized in that a plurality of database primary control apparatuses are provided, each of which is arranged in a different apparatus.

19. The database system of claim 16 wherein the telephone is a mobile telephone.